The Most Powerful warrior in Mahabharata

‘How many days would it take you to finish the battle of Mahabharata if you had to fight all by yourself?’, Asked *Lord Krishna* to all the warriors. *Angaraj Karna* would take 24 days and *Arjuna* told Lord Krishna that he could finish the battle by himself in 28 days. But there was one warrior whose strength astounded Lord Krishna. That one warrior, who could finish the war in just 1 minute is none other than - Barbarika

Barbarika giving his head to Lord Krishna as an act of Charity; Image Source: detechter.com

Who was Barbarika? Barbarika was the most powerful and undefeatable warrior of Dwapara Yug, but still, there is not a single mention of him in the entire epic of Mahabharata. The first mention of Barbarika was in the Skanda Purana (The largest Mahapurana, a genre of 18 Hindu religious texts). He was the son of Ghatotkach (son of Bhima) and Maurvi (Daughter of Datiya Moor). He was the Grandson of Bhima (the 2nd Pandava) and Hidimbi (A demon princess).

Barbarika was a born warrior. Since his childhood, he was trained under some great warriors. His mother being a great warrior herself taught him the art of warfare. So, since his childhood, it was difficult to defeat Barbarika. All his life, Barbarika was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Being impressed by him, Lord Shiva gave him three infallible arrows. whereas, in some versions, it is said that Barbarika was given the arrows by Asthadevas (eight gods).

Since then, Barbarika was known as the “bearer of three arrows” (Teen Baan Dhaari).

When Barbarika learned about the epic war that was going to happen between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, he wanted to witness it. He expressed his feelings for the same to his mother. His mother permitted him but on one condition that if it becomes necessary for him to fight in the battle then he would fight with the team losing at that point in time. He agreed and made his way to the battlefield riding on his blue horse along with his three infallible arrows.

When Lord Krishna gets to know that he immediately disguises himself as a Brahmin and he goes to meet Barbarika to test him. When he asks him the same question he had asked every single warrior participating in the war of Mahabharata, ”How many days would it take you to finish the Mahabharata war if you had to fight alone?” To which Barbarika without even blinking for a second replied that it would take him just a minute to finish the war on his own. Lord Krishna was astounded, then he asks Barbarika, “How he would finish the war within just a minute?” To which Barbarika gives him a proper explanation of the use of these arrows.

Barbarika explained to Lord Krishna that he will use the first arrow to mark all the things he wants to destroy. Then, he will use the second arrow to mark all the things he wants to save. After that, the third arrow will be used by him to destroy all the things that are not marked and then it will return to its quiver.

Lord Krishna realized the power of these three infallible arrows. He asked Barbarika whose side he wants to fight from? Barbarika told him that he has promised his mother that whichever side is weaker he would fight from that side. As the Pandavas only have seven Akshauhini sena whereas Kauravas have eleven, he assumed Pandavas to be the weaker side, and therefore he decides to support them. Then, Lord Krishna reveals the actual meaning behind the word the gave to his mother.

Whichever side he will choose, the other side will end up being the weaker one. This is why he will be forced to immediately switch sides due to the word he gave to his mother. Thus, both armies will be destroyed and he would be the only survivor of the battle of Mahabharata.

From that day onwards, Barbarika came to be known as, “Sheesh ke daani” (Donor of Head).

Then Lord Krishna explained to him that the head of the bravest Kshatriya needed to be sacrificed before the battle starts. To worship the battlefield, he needs Barbarika’s head in charity. With Lord Krishna’s command, Barbarika gave his head to him in charity.

Before giving his head to charity, Barbarika expressed his wishes to watch the entire war. Lord Krishna agrees to fulfil his wish by placing his head on top of a hill from which the entire battlefield is visible. From there, Barbarika watched the entire battle.

When Pandavas were arguing as to who among them is the most powerful warrior who is responsible for the victory, it was Barbarika who made them realize that it was the Narayana who was solely responsible for their victory whereas all of them were just mere puppets. After the war, Barbarika’s head was joined to his body and he left to make the entire world understand the importance of peace.

Although the story of the most powerful warrior remains unsung. But Barbarika is known by many names and is worshipped in many regions as various avatars of God. In Gujarat, Barbarika is worshipped as Baliyadev and has a temple situated at Lambha village in Ahmedabad District. whereas in Rajasthan he is worshipped as Khatushyama. There is a Khatushayama Temple located on a hill from which he witnessed the entire Battle situated in Khatu village. There the devotees worship the warrior who participated in the war without participating in it.

After his highly successful debut in Gautham Menon’s Minnale, Harris Jayaraj had firmly established himself in the hearts of his listeners. Breaking Rahman’s 9-year record, Jayaraj was awarded the Filmfare Award for the Best Music Director in the Tamil category, for his music production in the film.

From then on, all the movies he composed smashed box offices and became huge successes. A few of his widely-known works include Gautham Menon’s Kaakha Kaakha(2005) and A.R. Murugadoss’s Ghajini(2005). Film critics had nothing but praise for Harris Jayaraj, deeming his music to have the rare quality of being in perfect synergy with the film.

The child prodigy of noted cine guitarist, S. M. Jayakumar, Jayaraj fell headlong into the world of music at the tender age of 6. He formally began his Carnatic music training and kickstarted his career as a guitarist at age 12. Progressing to synthesisers and keyboards under the guidance of A.R. Rahman, Jayaraj began programming and worked in a staggering 600 projects until 2000.

Harris Jayaraj aced his 4th-grade exam from the world-renown Trinity College of Music, London; bagging the first position with the highest marks all-over Asia.

Staying true to his character throughout his sky-high achievements, Harris Jayaraj’s humility and dedication to his work showed in his music, garnering deep respect from the people of the country.

Not limiting his soulful melodies, Jayaraj soon had his debut in Telugu cinema with Vasu(2002) and entered the Bollywood scene with the Hindi remake of Minnale; Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein(2001).

Harris Jayaraj; PC- Imdb